Titles of Regulations: 8VAC20-80. Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia.

8VAC20-81. Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia.

Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-214 of the Code of Virginia; 20 USC §1400 et seq.); 34 CFR Part 300.

Public Comments: Public comments may be submitted until 5 p.m. on May 13, 2009.

In accordance with §§ 2.2-4007.06 and 2.2-4015 of the Administrative Process Act, the Department of Education, on behalf of the Virginia Board of Education, has suspended the regulatory process pertaining to the repeal of 8VAC20-80 and promulgation of 8VAC20-81, Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. The suspension is in response to requests from at least 25 people for an additional public comment period regarding those changes with substantial impact that were made to the regulations since they were published as proposed regulations. The proposed regulations were published in the Virginia Register of Regulations in 24:17 VA.R. 2360-2450 April 28, 2008. The final regulations are simultaneously published in this issue of the Virginia Register of Regulations.

The Virginia Department of Education will receive comments regarding 8VAC20-81 until 5 p.m. on May 13, 2009. Comments may be submitted by mail, facsimile, or email. All comments must include the name and contact information of the commenter. Comments may be submitted by mail to the Special Education Regulations Revision Process, Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services, Virginia Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120; by facsimile to (804) 786-8520; or by email to ReviseSpedRegs@doe.virginia.gov.

Agency Contact: Melissa Smith, Coordinator of Administrative Services, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120, telephone (804) 371-0524, or email melissa.smith@doe.virginia.gov.